10 Commandments

Take Heed And Thou Shall Have A Successful Trip

August 11, 1996|By Michael A. Reiter. Special to the Tribune.

You are planning your first trip to Rome (or London or Hong Kong or . . .). In the time that remains, what should you do--other than the obvious things such as getting a valid passport, preparing clothes to wear and obtaining enough money--to make your trip as enjoyable as possible?

Based upon travels throughout much of the world, I have developed these 10 commandments for traveling abroad which, if followed, should make more enjoyable any travel experience:

1. Read before you go.

While travel is one of the most broadening and enjoyable experiences you can have, you will miss much if you do not do your homework before you go.

Most good guidebooks have a basic discussion of the history of places you will visit along with a brief discussion of each country's religion, politics, arts and architecture, plus practical information for travelers. I recommend the series by Fodor, Hachette (Blue Guide Series) and Michelin (Green). For those looking to use a guidebook to choose a hotel, the Fodor series is reliable, as are the Frommer guidebooks for those looking for more budget-oriented travel. For more adventurous travelers who are not particularly concerned with creature comforts, I strongly recommend the Lonely Planet series.

Many countries have tourist offices or consulates in Chicago and other large cities where you can visit or write for maps, hotel lists and other information. (Sometimes you can get better tourist information and maps outside of the country you will be visiting than when you get there.)

A friend comes back from Mainz, Germany, where he had a wonderful time. He tells you the people are fantastic, the weather is lovely--it's a great place. You go, and find nothing of particular interest. When you return you ask your friend why he thought Mainz was so special. It turns out your friend met a beautiful woman there, it was early in September, the sun was shining, and they sat overlooking the Rhine while sipping Moselle wine. Of course, when you went in early December, the sun didn't shine, you could not sit outside, and you lacked the good fortune of meeting an eligible romantic partner.

Before going somewhere, you should learn what it is about the place that is being recommended and whether you would enjoy what there is to do there. For example, if the main attraction is an art museum and you have no interest in art, you might think twice about whether you really want to make the trip.

3. Don't try to do too much on any one trip or on any one day.

Of all the commandments of travel, this is the one most often violated. The simple fact is that if you try to do too much, it will all become a blur. Rather than see France, Spain and Morocco superficially in a 10-day trip, you would be far better off seeing one of those countries in greater depth. Why spend so much time packing, checking into and out of hotels, running to and from airports or trains when there is so much to see in one country or place?

Similarly, don't try to see three museums in one city in a day. If you have a few days in a city with wonderful museums, spread out the visits. The experience will be more meaningful.

This commandment is a corollary of the third. Moreover, by seeing the nearby sights, you will save money on unnecessary travel.

I asked a friend who had returned from visiting Rome whether he had seen the Vatican Museum. "Oh yes," he replied. "I drove by it on Sunday." The Sistine Chapel? He didn't have time because he had to go to Paris to see Notre Dame. How crazy, I thought. Why not leave Paris for another trip and enjoy the marvels of Rome while there?

5. When possible, try to see sights in close proximity to each other on the same day.

Before starting a day of sightseeing, obtain a map of the city and a list of the opening and closing hours of the places you wish to visit. In some Mediterranean countries, sights are closed from noon until about 3 p.m. because of the siesta. In certain Moslem countries, sights are closed on Fridays but open on Sundays. In Israel, many places are closed on Saturdays, and public transportation as well is unavailable.

You'll save time and money by not needlessly running back and forth across a city.

6. Don't go just to shop.

First, you often miss the wonderful experiences that travel has to offer. Second, the goods you are buying frequently are available back home; the money you are "saving" by buying abroad does not offset the cost of getting there, paying for accommodations, etc.

I am not against shopping while on vacation (some items, indeed, aren't available back home). What I am suggesting, however, is that to spend a great deal of limited time to save relatively little money is generally a mistake.

7. When you do shop, do not make your purchases on your first day in a city.